Small product runs and licence conditions

[Mike Warren]

Hello,

I am trying to find out if XPe is appropriate for a product we are developing.
The product is a digital media device which is based on a desktop X86
configuration.

The prototypes are running XP Home and our software replaces
Explorer as the shell. I am interested in using XPe since as I understand
the licence, we would be allowed to supply a system recovery CD with
each machine. Is this correct?

Our initial batch will be only 100 units with a total production of
approximately 1000 per year.

Microsoft Australia are unable to tell me if XPe would be suitable and
the Australasian distributor in Singapore has not responded to my email.

Is XPe only suitable for larger runs?

-Mike

 

[KM]

Mike,

Hello,

I am trying to find out if XPe is appropriate for a product we are developing.
The product is a digital media device which is based on a desktop X86

configuration.

XPe is based on XP Pro binaries. A general rule is if you can make it with
XP Pro, you can definitely (and better from techincal and license points of
view) go with XPe.

The prototypes are running XP Home and our software replaces
Explorer as the shell.

Creating a custom shell or replacing a standard shell is probably one of the
hottest topics for Windows Embedded and easy to archive under XPe.
A couple of articles for you to see what you can do to replace the shell:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en-us/dnxpembed/html/custshell.asp
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en-us/dnxpesp1/html/tchDifferentShellsForDifferentUsers.asp
And related How-To from documentation:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en-us/xpehelp/html/xetbsHowToCreateCustomizedShell.asp

I am interested in using XPe since as I understand
the licence, we would be allowed to supply a system recovery CD with
each machine. Is this correct?

I am not a dev guy and don't know many legal details about XPe but I am sure
that many of us here have done the recovery options for our XPe image. It
could be CD, USB or any fixed or removable media.

Our initial batch will be only 100 units with a total production of
approximately 1000 per year.

Later you may want to look at the XPe Cloning feature:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en-us/xpehelp/html/xeconCloning.asp

Microsoft Australia are unable to tell me if XPe would be suitable and
the Australasian distributor in Singapore has not responded to my email.

Contact any US XPe distributor - it may appear you get a response faster .

Is XPe only suitable for larger runs?

Why not? I have seen XPe launches for 1000's and 10000's and more devices.
Check out this site for various XPe and CE applications:
http://www.windowsfordevices.com/

KM, BSquare Corp.
www.bsquare.com

PS. Btw, from what you described Windows CE may also well suit your needs.

 

[Mike Warren]

Hi KM,

Thanks for replying.

I am not a dev guy and don't know many legal details about XPe but I
am sure that many of us here have done the recovery options for our
XPe image. It could be CD, USB or any fixed or removable media.

That sounds promising.

Later you may want to look at the XPe Cloning feature:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en-us/xpehelp/html/xeconCloning.asp

Yes, Cloning appears to be much the same process that system builders
use with the tools that come with packs of XPHome OEM etc.

Contact any US XPe distributor - it may appear you get a response
faster .

I think I will phone Singapore tomorrow and hope the person who answers
can speak English. If that becomes a dead end, I'll try a US distributor.

Why not? I have seen XPe launches for 1000's and 10000's and more
devices. Check out this site for various XPe and CE applications:
http://www.windowsfordevices.com/

I think you misunderstood me. I was wondering if small runs like ours were
too small to be of interest to Microsoft and their distributors.

PS. Btw, from what you described Windows CE may also well suit your
needs.

I don't think WinCE has the power we require. This is a rather large device with a
200GB hard drive and a P4 2.4Ghz processor.

-Mike

 

[Slobodan Brcin \(eMVP\)]

Hi Mike,

I think you misunderstood me. I was wondering if small runs like ours were
too small to be of interest to Microsoft and their distributors.

No problems at all. You can order one COA sticker. Package of 10 stickers, or as many stickers that you want.

Best regards,
Slobodan

 

[KM]

Mike,

I think you misunderstood me.

Yes, I did.

I was wondering if small runs like ours were
too small to be of interest to Microsoft and their distributors.

Don't see any problem with it. It is just a question of how many licences (COA stickers) you are ging to order from an XPe
distributor.
Although, you may not expect much technical assistence from them as the volume is not very large.
But XPe documentation and this NG may answer all your questions.

I don't think WinCE has the power we require. This is a rather large device with a
200GB hard drive and a P4 2.4Ghz processor.

I don't see a problem with processor (although you may end up not using some of its features).
But considering that only FAT/FAT32 are available off the shelf in CE, 200GB hard drive may be a bit of problem.
Well... You know you device specs better, it is up to you what OS to use

KM

 

[Mike Warren]

Hi Slobodan,

No problems at all. You can order one COA sticker. Package of 10
stickers, or as many stickers that you want.

Thanks. Now I just have to convince them to take our money.

I have only been looking at this NG for a couple of hours and can already
see that reading your posts may well get me through the expected teething
problems.

-Mike

 

[Slobodan Brcin \(eMVP\)]

Mike,

One useful link for accessing and searching old archives:
http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=...F-8&group=microsoft.public.windowsxp.embedded

Best regards,
Slobodan

 

[Guest]

Dear Mike,

I am sorry to hear you could not get support from us.
Could you kindly contact me at (e-mail address removed) to see how we could make
up to you.

Edmund
www.wecomasia.com
(e-mail address removed)

 

[KM]

Mike,

Regarding a system recovery CD with each machine read Recovery Image
Agreement on OEM Secure site:
http://microsoft.embeddedoem.com/documents/licensing/Recovery Image.doc

KM

 

[Mike Warren]

Hello Edmund,

I am sorry to hear you could not get support from us.
Could you kindly contact me at (e-mail address removed) to see how we
could make up to you.

I have just replied to an email sent to me by another person at your
company.

Regards
Mike

 

[Mike Warren]

Hi KM,

Regarding a system recovery CD with each machine read Recovery Image
Agreement on OEM Secure site:
http://microsoft.embeddedoem.com/documents/licensing/Recovery Image.doc

Thanks for that.

-Mike